25 Mar 2015 07:47:50
With Smalling's recent form and the impending arrival of a new CB do you think Rojo's future lies at left back?
I know Shaw is a kid and could be our LB for years but if we sign a new CB say Hummels would you prefer him partnering Smalling in CB or Rojo is CB?
25 Mar 2015 08:55:24
I think Blind looks like he may cement the LB spot and Rojo is certainly LVG's preferred alternative. Whether LVG rates Shaw or not is a question in itself but I have been told their is an underling issue with Shaw, LVG and others at OT.
25 Mar 2015 09:38:02
JMB, we have paid a huge amount for Shaw and are paying him wages which weren't even acceptable to Chelsea so it is safe to say we will not be able to offload Shaw on a permanent deal.
I somehow feel at least as long as LvG is with us we are going to make a fool of ourself by loaning a 28-30 million pound youngster to some other club while paying majority of his wages.
I hope Shaw finds form and fitness and makes the LB spot his own.
25 Mar 2015 10:38:39
I agree MB I would love nothing more for him to be our left back for the next 10 years plus, but certain things within the club have to be sorted out before we see the best of him.
With potential defensive recruits coming in the summer I agree LVG may loan him out.
25 Mar 2015 10:44:42
JMB
What underlying issue?
Shaw is suffering from injuries. He will be a world class LB for us for the next god knows how many years. It is an unfortunate thing but injuries generally tend to come in batches and he is suffering from them this season.
Blind will not hold that position and you are confusing one decent game to what is a natural LB position. Blind will get murdered against different opposition with someone who has pace on a one on one basis. Better teams will isolate him and look for that match up.
25 Mar 2015 10:50:53
I imagine we'll see one of evans or jones leave probably evans considering age and potential, with Rojo being used as back up for both lb and cb, don't forget if we get Europe we'll need a bigger squad than we have now, with more quality.
25 Mar 2015 11:06:39
Just so I'm clear.
You are assuming Shaw will be loaned out based on the sole fact LVG is manager?
And you are hoping Shaw makes the spot his own rather than the better player being played regardless of who that is?
25 Mar 2015 11:18:09
GCU,
Are you saying that Townsend and Sterling where slow, Spurs deliberately set up to target that area but Townsend couldn't get a kick and was subbed in the first half!
25 Mar 2015 11:19:25
GCU
LB is Blinds natural position he played LB in the World Cup how much better do the teams have to be before he gets "caught out"?
25 Mar 2015 11:20:25
p.s does Sterling not have pace?
25 Mar 2015 11:30:31
clarity I said I am hoping Shaw makes the position his own, I have not once said that Shaw should be played even though other players are playing better in that position.
So in essence what I am trying to say is that if hypothetically; Shaw, Rojo and Blind all are performing at the same level and quality at LB then I would go with Shaw as the first choice.
25 Mar 2015 11:32:54
I agree his injuires since joining have been troublesome but he is still a teenager developing into an adult, his body is still growing.
I disagree though on Blind at LB. He played there for Ajax and the Dutch national team on many occasions. He may not be the best physically or posess a high level of pace but his judgment is sharp. He knows when to push, when to slip across and how to time a challenge. I think he will be the LB of choice under LVG after the summer arrivals.
25 Mar 2015 11:50:58
People are ignoring the fact that the LB and LW work as a unit. Yes Blind Is not the quickest but he is the same as Carrick in that he makes up for it by being a step ahead in the brain. Alongside Young I would be happy for them to stay as our combination for the rest of the season.
Shaw needs to get fully fit. maybe that means he is out for rest of season. He has already taken on LVG s philosophy as has been pointed out earlier in the season.
He will be important next year especially if we go 443.
25 Mar 2015 12:06:57
No way shaw will leave I think rojo will stay cb and blind and shaw will be lb the reason I say that is I think we will only sign 1 cb this summers and go all out for hummels and be left with him if he signs Jones smalling and rojo with either Blackett or McNair as 5 choice
25 Mar 2015 12:22:55
He's a solid defender but he can't take the ball past a man to save his life, doesn't have the legs for it so I doubt he'll cement the LB position. He's happy to be at the club and play a variety of positions. Just think of him as the new John O'Shea. Shaw will come good within a year no doubt about that, we wouldn't just get rid of a young English player we've spent £30m on.
25 Mar 2015 15:48:40
MB
I'm still struggling to understand why you would want a particular player to do that if another is playing well in the role?
Is he a close friend/family member of yours?
25 Mar 2015 16:44:12
Ozwald
dont think I ever seen G Neville take the ball past a man and he didn't do too bad at cementing his position.
Why are people just not satisfied that the lad is playing well at LB instead of feeling the need to discuss whether it may or may not last?
He has nullified 2 of the paciest wingers in the prem and put in 2 solid performances, probably the best performances in the position all season. Just because he doesn't get a green line on your FIFA Ultimate Team doesn't mean he can't do it in real life (which has been proven he can) especially when the player you are referring to as being his superior hasn't performed anywhere near that level all season
The John O Shea reference is absolutely nonsensical
25 Mar 2015 17:29:22
Clarity i urge you to read my post again and then comment.
I have not we need to start an underperforming Shaw ahead of Blind or Rojo
25 Mar 2015 18:35:29
TOT
They never had that match up and sterling received the ball 85% of time with his back towards our goal and we never allowed them to build up any play by harassing them. He is good back up but he is no Shaw.
25 Mar 2015 19:14:42
Clarity, how many of our players have had a bad game over the course of the season? Is it not likely that Sterling had a bad game? or that Townsend (who quite often against big teams can't perform) for that matter? He was never really tested against Spurs and was caught out a couple of times against Liverpool. I like Blind he can do a good job, he's done a better job for us in the middle of the field early on in the season that a lot of people seem to have forgotten about. For obvious reasons a lot of people haven't forgot about the form and skill Shaw showed for Southampton all of last season so is it any wonder people are reacting to Blind being our LB? Truth be told he's playing there to accommodate Carrick just like Rooney was moved back to accommodate RvP.
The link between him and O'shea I was making is that they were/are good squad players who can fill in, in a number of positions how can you not see that?! Find it funny I have to point it out for you but fair enough.
26 Mar 2015 09:44:05
Yes it makes more sense that they both coincidently had bad games to make your point valid.
Lets throw all the right wingers in the world cup into the bad performance pot aswel because you Ozwald have to be right surely
Lets take back his Dutch player of the year award because he didn't fully deserve it, as every right winger had bad games that season
thanks for enlightening me